Travel Blog 6 December 2013 – 5 January 2014

WOW, I can’t believe how fast 3 months have gone…we arrived back in a whirlwind.   Landed at 4.30pm OR Tambo Airport, having just received an sms from Alfred ‘your taxi awaits you’!!!!! Huh!!!!   Surprised, yes…who was Alfred, we hadn’t organised a cab, thought John’s sister was fetching us LOL.   Anyway as it turned out, Alfred had been waiting for us for over an hour, we had been delayed in Sydney as some of our passengers had firstly been delayed, then gone ‘walkabout’.   Viv, bless her, had organised us a cab as she had been held up and couldn’t fetch us, THANK YOU Viv.   So, after loading all our luggage into the cab, Alfred proceeded to drive us back to Muldersdrlft, however, he decided to take the ‘back roads’.  We just happened to drive around Nelson Mandelas turf, believe it or not….a couple of hours later, we heard the news that he had passed away, shoo’ what a day to land back in SA.

So, after our ‘scenic’ tour with Alfred, we arrived safely back at Country Park in Muldersdrift.   John and I were both a little concerned about our campervan, as we had been informed of an horrendous hail storm that had hit Gauteng.   We weren’t entirely sure what state either of our vehicles would be in.   We are pleased to report, that all was well.   Both totally exhausted, especially seeing we had crossed from being ahead of time, back 9 hours, our biological clocks were very spaced out.   We decided to hit the sack early, get some sleep and hopefully feel somewhat rested the next morning.  We were going to collect the dogs from Pin Oaks.

We collected the dogs after having done some shopping to replenish our supplies.   Michael had been forewarned of our arrival, so both dogs were ‘chillin’ on the patio by his office.  We drove our Zook up to the entrance.   Quince and Gyps made a bee line for the fence, barking, but didn’t give us any indication that they recognised the zook or us….for a moment, that was, until I decided to ‘talk foreign’….then the fun and games began.  Quince just about tried to climb over the fence, he was so excited…Madam Gypsey on the other hand, nose in air, took her time in greeting us both..I think it was her way of reminding us, that we had left her for 3 months, not the other way around LOL.  Both our bullies were fit, fat and o’ so healthy, coats shining, noses wet….THANK YOU again Michael, Doreen, Sharon and the staff at Pin Oaks.     I cannot stress enough what an amazing kennel this is.   It was an emotional time for Sharon and Michael, as they had become very attached to both our dogs, BUT, good news, they would see them again over New Year, as John and I were joining Viv and John Thome in the Pilansberg.

So the next week was spent orientating the dogs again, getting them back into campervan life.   The weekend of 13 December 2013 saw John’s nephew Jason and his beautiful fiancee Lee, join together in Holy Matrimony at Red Ivory Lodge in Hartebeespoort.  We, that is the Royal We, being John, I and the dogs, all went up for the wedding, staying overnight at a little self catering place, about 15kms from the venue.  Beautiful bride, handsome groom, great venue, splendid service and of course, seeing all the family again was the cherry on the top.

14 December was MOI’s birthday LOL.   On our way back to Muldersdrift, John, I and the dogs stopped off at a little shopping centre, which had a Mugg and Bean, so a birthday brekkie was in order.  Then evening of the 14th, we had a braai and drinks with Briony and Klaus, our neighbours.  Incidentally, I found out that evening that Klaus and I share a birthday, how amazing was that LOL, so we had ‘cheers’ all round.

Viv and John T organised a ‘get-together’ at their home in Douglasdale.  Was awesome to meet up with some of John Thome’s family and friends, as well as John and Viv’s cousin Laura and her hubbie.     All too quickly it was time for Christmas.   Viv had organised Christmas to be had at Country Park where we were camped, firstly because it was easier with the dogs and secondly, Country Park have a wonderful undercover boma, so just in case it rained, we had shelter.  As was predicted, it rained, but that didn’t spoil our Christmas…in fact it was great to have cool weather.

The weather in Gauteng, this time of the year, is generally hot and humid, with thunderstorms late afternoon.   BUT, I hadn’t remembered just how much rain could fall in a small amount of time…as you can imagine there were often evenings we were very grateful again for the boma.

Country Park has been really great….it is close to family and friends, besides that, we have met such awesome people here.   Klaus and Briony from Bavaria (ex pats), Inge and Volke  from Munich (their second time doing a 3 month stint in Africa) and  Dieter and Inge from Germany (ex pats).

I was lucky enough to have some girlie time with my mate Gisela…we went off one Saturday afternoon to see Sleeping Beauty on Ice at Monte Casino.  John and I also met Richard and Gisela for a pizza just up the road.  Has been amazing spending time with Don, Tracy and the boys, as well as being here when litle Michael Peter Paice arrived on New Years Eve.

Our New Year was spent in the Manyane Camp at Pilansberg.  The dogs went back to Michal for 4 nights.    We were also hugely excited, to find out that our friends Cheryl and Steve from Cape Town, were at Bakubang Camp and my cousin Lisa and her fiancee Ivor, were at Kwa Maritane…so  we were able to see them all, along with being treated to an awesome lunch…thank you Steve.

So all too soon, good things come to and end in one place, leaving the door to open on another.  Today is the 5th January 2014, John’s birthday.  We had drinks with our fellow campers last night and this morning as is our new tradition…we had brekkie at Mugg and Bean in Fourways.  Tomorrow morning early, after a visit to Home Affairs, we bid Gauteng and Country Park ‘farewell’.    We are making our way to Clarens for a week, then onto Knysna and home to Cape Town.

Visit us again soon……